Bihar upset over advise against using Ganga water

State Water Resources Minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav said the Bihar government would lodge its protest with the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government as the advise against using the Ganga water would hamper thr state's development.
"It is against the interest of Bihar's development. How can we be forced to create a water reservoir to run power plants? The Centre's advice was a clear message to stop using the water of the Ganga river during four months of lean period (when water flow reduces) for power plants," Yadav said.

The minister said the central government's suggestion came last week after Kolkata-based Nalanda Power Company, which is setting up a 2000-MW coal-based thermal power plant at Pirpainty in the state's Bhagalpur district, was not given water clearance.
The estimated cost of the project is Rs.5,000 crore (Rs.50 billion).
Yadav said the move is likely to jeopardise the proposed power plants in the state as they would not get water clearance till they constructs their own reservoirs.
"It is bound to hit proposed power plants in the state. We fail to understand the centre's attitude towards Bihar's development," he said.

"We have decided to write a letter to the central government and would take legal recourse if Bihar is prevented from using water of the Ganga for its power plants," Yadav said.
The minister added that Bihar would take the help of states like Assam to lodge a joint protest with the central government over the issue.